The Board of Kenya Forest Service has appointed Alex Lemarkoko as the new Chief Conservator of Forest, succeeding Julius Kamau whose one term stint at the agency ended early this year.
Lemarkoko was appointed in an acting capacity in February this year. Since joining the former forest department in 1991, he has served in various capacities, starting as an assistant district forest officer and later on was promoted to district forest officer serving in about ten counties.
He later moved to the KFS Headquarters Forest Protection and Security Function rising through the ranks to the position of commandant in charge of protection and security.
The new Chief Conservator of Forests holds a bachelor of science in Forestry from Moi University and a Master of Arts in International Studies from the University of Nairobi. Besides, he is also a graduate of the National Defence College.
Logging
Alex Lemarkoko assumes the role at a time when there is a public debate on lifting a near six-year ban on logging by President William Ruto. However, the Environment and Land Court early this month ordered a 14-day stay on the president’s repeal of the moratorium which was meant to check forest destruction.
The Law Society of Kenya challenged the decision in court, saying the government had not made the scientific case for lifting the ban or adequately consulted the community about its impact.
The new Chief Conservator of Forest will play a key role in Kenya Kwanza government agenda in raising country’s tree cover. President William Ruto’s administration intends to plant 15 billion trees in the next 10 years at a cost of Sh600 billion.
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